In India, 15 million children of grade-school
age are being forced to work full time or longer in child slavery
"sweatshops." Cut-price Christmas decorations and items are made by
child slaves. So, BE AWARE this Christmas Season. Please take an extra effort to be sure that you don't purchase items made from sweatshops.
Priyanke Ribhu of Global March Against Child Labor says many children
in India are often lured away from their parents by gangmasters who
befriend their parents in the remote villages where they live.
The gangmasters reportedly promise parents their kids will be
taken to a better place where they will be provided a real education and
many great opportunities they could not receive in their villages.
Parents are also often told the children will be able to send money back
home to help their families.
Far too often
the children simply end up locked away behind padlocks only to work
17-,18-, even 19-hour days with no one to help them. Holiday decorations
similar to those discovered in the recent raid can be found on eBay and
in other marketplaces online or in stores.
PLEASE NOTE: The
items are often sold off into a sophisticated network of suppliers that
make it nearly impossible for retailers or consumers to know whether the
goods they are purchasing have been made by child labor.
Be aware of items, especially sold on eBay and online
Markets. If it says "handmade" or does not list the country in which it
was made; or, if it is extremely low-priced or if it says "handmade"
and comes from India. Key: Too-low prices and species manufacture and/or
country of origin. The people exploiting these children and marketing
these items on the backs of child slaves are sophisticated, btw. And
they are motivated. They are making millions from the broken lives of
children.
Link:
Enslaved children article.
Also: You can sign an e-petition asking the Indian Government to take immediate action. Here:
www.educationenvoy.org Let's do our part in making sure that the greatest Season of All is celebrated with honest items!
Selah.
NOTE: 61 million children are currently denied education and
life-freedom. 115 Million are currently involved in hazardous work. Many children are sold into slave work markets, especially the
boys. The girls are often sold as child brides or sold into
child-prostitution. It's a horrid state of affairs. Make a difference!